- Same here, please! - he said smiling at her.
The girl smiled back and stared at him. Alec winked at her and kept smiling. I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh. He hadn't changed a bit.
- Can I have my drink now? - I asked roughly. - You can take the barn if you like, but don't let it be here in front of me. I suggest you get a room upstairs.
Alec looked away with a laugh.
- Jealous? - he asked me laughing.
- In your dreams, Your Highness! - he said between his teeth.
He turned to me still smiling.
- You don't know what I dream about, miss. - he whispered and held my gaze for a few seconds. Then he turned his gaze back on the barn. - Come on. Maybe later, if you're not busy, we'll talk a little bit.
He winked at the girl, who nodded and jumped out like a happy gazelle. My stomach turned with the open way he flirted with her.
- Wow, what a gentleman! - I whispered with disdain.
Alec MacCalister hadn't changed anything about that aspect. He was still a frivolous, spoiled man. He still had that lost boy look, but I knew what he was charming about.
The barn came back just as quickly as she had left and delivered our drinks. She was carrying a bottle on her tray that I hadn't ordered.
- The owner of the tavern asked if you'd like to have the bottle? - she said pointing to the Bourbon I used to drink. - He said it's on the house.
I had the habit of drinking a bottle of Bourbon, therefore, it relieved the pains of my heart that left me without sleep. It was in that corner all night long. I smiled at the owner of the tavern, who was the father of the girl who had been harassed by one of my guards, and I nodded in thanks.
- Yes, thank you! - I answered. The girl took the bottle and deposited it on the table, so she left. Before, however, she looked at Alec and blinked.
- Be careful, Your Majesty! - I said before I put the glass in my mouth. - None of my men are allowed to play with any girl in the village.
- Why shouldn't I? - he asked curiously. - She's kind of pretty for a tavern attendant. They're usually very ugly and grumpy. Some old ones.
I grunted in reference to his words. Alec had a bad habit of talking about everything she thought about no matter who she heard. Those words sounded rude in view of the gallanting man he was reputed to be. My wish was to kick his ass and send him back to the hole he had come out of, but instead, I just looked at him seriously.
- Because they usually don't have good manners or limits, so they end up bringing confusion beyond the village. - I answered in a dry tone. - They're foolish men and I'm not here to be anyone's drool, much less be responsible for separating bar fights. However, if that happens, I swear to God that measures will be taken and I will punish every irresponsible person under my command.
Alec let out a laugh and took the glass of beer to his lips.
- So that's why that man was being punished when I arrived?
- Certainly! - I fired. - He tried to grab the daughter of the village chief, who is also the owner of this tavern. Luckily, she managed to escape that idiot's claws. When the father heard about it, he came to get satisfaction from the imbecile, who was still sitting here to drink. It all ended in a fight and left one of my men, who had nothing to do with the situation, badly injured.
- Pull! - He frowned. - So you decided to use it as a piece of furniture and skin his knees? I could think of something much more painful.
I laughed before I spilled the glass of beer in my mouth and drank it all at once.
- We have few men, Your Highness! - I answered. - I can't afford to lose one because of a lack of sense. It's enough for those who get ambushed when they go hunting.
- How do you know he was out of his mind? - he asked. - What if the little girl had given you freedom and then regretted it?
- Believe me, Your Highness, she didn't give him freedom. - I fired indignantly. - He tried to take advantage of her and he should thank me for not killing him.
- Why do you say that so sure? - he asked, taking me seriously.
- Because I know the girl in question and, despite her height, she is only thirteen years old. - I answered emphatically. - That idiot should be defending his honor and not attacking it.
Alec rolled his eyes like he was sick. The expression in his gaze became more serious and he looked at me with steaming eyes.
- What man would attack a child?
- The most vile and cowardly thing I've ever had the displeasure of meeting.
- Yeah, you're right! - he commented. - That man should be hanged and I'll do it as soon as we get to camp.
Franzi's forehead, therefore, his words sounded full of hatred and I could notice some sorrow behind them. Even though I agreed with him, I knew we couldn't afford to lose more men. Enough with the cold and the useless fights wiping out that siege.
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